Motorists urged to 'be tram aware' when driving near Metrolink as footage shows collisions on network

Footage from a tram showing a van crossing the tram tracks

Transport for Greater Manchester is urging motorists to “be tram aware” when driving near the Metrolink by releasing footage of recent road traffic collisions on the network.

Between April and December 2022 there were 91 car collisions with trams, with most incidents caused by driver error on the motorist’s side.

Drivers are being asked to be more aware of their surroundings when sharing road space with trams, particularly at junctions and level crossings.

The footage of each of the three collisions released by TfGM shows drivers of cars and heavy goods vehicles pulling ahead of oncoming trams before the tram driver can react.

These poor driving habits can put the driver, tram driver and passengers at risk of serious injury, and can have a wider impact on the Metrolink network and adversely affect the travelling public.

Collisions also cause a significant financial impact to both Metrolink and motorists. Metrolink incurred repair costs of £1.4 million between April and December 2022, which is mostly being recovered through motorists’ insurance.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “It’s vitally important that motorists remain vigilant when driving close to the Metrolink network, particularly where the tracks run on or along roads.

“Our trams weigh 40 tonnes and have the potential to cause significant injury and damage if they are involved in a collision, so please take extra care when driving.

“In most cases collisions on Metrolink are due to motorists not paying attention, so we hope that by releasing this footage, drivers will be more tram aware help reduce the risk crashes and additional consequences such as the disruption to our customers.”